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| Website Design Rules of Thumb |
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| Internet > Website Design |
| Written by Joseph Lee Zeleny |
| Wednesday, 21 January 2009 03:49 |
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When it comes to your website, extra attention should be paid to each small detail to ensure it performs optimally to serve its purpose. Here are some important rules to take into consideration for make sure your website performs well. Splash Pages are a No No Splash pages are generally the first page you see when you arrive at a new website. Normally they possess vibrant images and graphics with words like "Welcome" or "Click here to enter". In fact, they are just that – empty shells with no real purpose. Don’t give your visitors have a reason to click on the "back" button! Show them the value of your website up front without the splash page. Splash pages are only good when someone is just registering their website domain and need to have something for people to see while they are having their website design completed. Don’t use excessive banner ads Even the least net savvy browsers have learned over the years of constant visual bombardment to ignore banner advertisements which means you will be wasting valuable website space which could better serve you by other means. Rather, provide more valuable content and integrate more relevant affiliate links into your content, this will allow your website visitors to feel that they have the option to buy instead of being bullied into it. Keep your website navigation simple and clean You should present a simple and very easy to follow navigation menu so that even an elementary school student, or someone horribly new to the web, will be able to navigate your website with ease. Steer clear of complicated Flash based menus and multi-tiered dropdown menus. If your visitors don't know how to navigate, and get frustrated, you can kiss them goodbye. Have a clear understanding of where the user is in your website When browsers are deeply engrossed in browsing your site, make sure they know which part of the site they are in at any given moment. In doing so, your visitors will be able to browse information or easily navigate to a separate section of the site. Don't confuse your visitors or you risk them going to someone else’s better designed website. Avoid using sound on your site If your visitor is going to remain on your site for any period of time, reading your content, make sure they're not annoyed by some audio that auto loops on and on within your website. If you insist on adding audio to your website, make sure browsers have some control over it -- volume or muting controls are a better alternative and don’t risk someone coming to you with fire in their eyes. Don’t scatterbrain your information So many times we visit a website and there is way too much content on different products or services on a single page. It’s like the site screams, “LOOK AT ALL MY STUFF BECAUSE YOU ARE GOING TO LEAVE JUST LIKE THE REST OF THEM!!!” Instead, keep your information limited on any single page. This will encourage people to visit deeper into your site. This also allows each page to be optimized easier and read better to the search engines. Following these key steps will put you well on your way to having a user friendly website that will keep people coming, and staying, for years to come. |
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